Intermittent feed mechanism



March 16 ,"1926.'

Ags. HOWELL IMERMITTBNT FEED MCHANISM Filed July 1, 1922 4 Sheqts-JShaet1 March 4i6, 1926.

A. s; HOWELL INTERMITTENT FEED MECHANISM Filed July 1,. 1922 4Sheds-Sheet 2- March 16 1926. 1,577,030

A. S. HOWELL INTERMITTENT FEED MECHANISM Fi1ed'Jg1y 1, 1922 4Smets-sheet :s

/qL f2 March 16 1926.

, 1,577,030 A. s. HOWELL INTERMITTENT FEED MECHANISM Filed July 1, 19,22.4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

Lavianoy UNITED ASTATES PATENT orner.;- l

ALBERT S. HOWELL, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A'SSIGNOB. TO BELL HOWELLCOMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLmOIS. A

.Application led July 1, 1922.. Serial No. 572,169.

To all whomz't 'mag/concern.' Y Be it known that I, ALBERT S. HOWELL, a

i citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the countyvofCookl and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in vIntermittent Feed Mechanism, of which the following is afull,

clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to' theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates particularly to motion picture apparatus althoughmany of the V features thereof are not limitedv to this use alone.

intermittent fee construction, combination, and arrangementV of parts bywhich the said features and certain other features hereinafter appearingare eifected, all as fully"`described with ref- In .the said drawings 1designates a boxlike frame forming an enclosure.v One side of the frameis open and is closed by a door 2 hinged thereto at the bottom as shownat 6 and secured in closed osition, as shown 1n Fig. 6, by a releasableIlatch 4, see Fig. 1, of usual construction, the door effecting a lighttight enclosure of the open side 'of the fra-me when vin -closed ositionand permitting ingress to the insi e of the frame when in open positionas shown in Fig. 1. The forward end ofthe frame 1 has a circulartransversely disposed shutter chamber 5 therein, and the forward end ofthis chamber is closed by a plate 6 secured to the frame. Theframe 1 hasa transverse wall lforn'i'ation 7 just back of the shutter chamber, andthis wall formation has a rectangular light aperture 8 therethrou h andcom- `municating with the shutter c amber and disposedvadjacent theperiphery ofthe shutter chamber inv horizontal central relationtherewith on the side of the shutter chamber axis adjacent the open sideof the frame. A

erence to thejaccom anying drawings andl more articularly pomtedout inthe claims.

In t e said drawingsl Figure 1 is a view in side elevationofa motionpicture camera embodying the features of my invention, with the doorthereof in open position.l

Figure 2 1s a partial lview similar to 1 showing certainl parts indifferent posi-l tions.

Fi sproc et retaining roller assembly, herein? after referred to, withparts brokenv away.

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4--4ofFig.1. j

Figure 5 is a partialv section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.1 j

Fi ure 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig-5I Figure 7 isarpartial section taken on the line -7-7 of Fig. 6. I

Figure 8 is a artial side elevation of the d mechanism assembly. Likecharacters of reference indicate like parts inthe several views.

ure 3 is a side elevation of the film and havetheir .other-le l linnervertical ede of t e jplate 11 vand ex- Icamera lens .9 is mounted in asuitable open- 1ng 10 in the plate 6 in alinement with the aperturev 8.

The rear face of the wall formation 7 surrounding the aperture'8 isdisposed 'in a transverse vertical plane, and a front film face guidedplate 11 is secured thereagainst and is provi ed with rectangular lightaperture 12 registering vwith the aperture 8. See Figs. 1, 6, andi 7. Avertical film edge guide rail A 131s secured against the rear face ofthe plate 11 and is disposed. to the side of the aperture 12 adjacent?the open side of the with a pair of spa frame 1a. The rear of the wall'formation 7 covered by vthe` late. 11 is provided transverse grooves 14of rectilinearcross section and disposed res ectivelyl above and belowapertures 8 an' 12.l L-shaped lm edge guide members 15 of rectilinearcross section corresponding with the section of the transverse grooveshave; one le thereof 'engaged in respective grooves14 or transverse'movement therein to the. side of the tending rearwar beyond the rearface of the plate. See

i rand 7.; The said lrear face ofthe wal formation7 covered by ftheplate 11 is provide-d with a vertically extending sliallow depression 16lat the outer lside of the'apertures 8 and 12'which extendsk between thegrooves 14 and communicates therewith. The depression has a verticalabrupt outwardly facing shoulder 17 at its 4 notches 19 maintain thespring 18 in proper and comp etes the film guide.

vertical position. A- rear film face guide plate 20, mounted in a mannerhereinafter described, is disposed in back of the front hlm face uide 11in parallelism therewith The film, designated at 21, is guided forvertical longitudinal movement in this guide with Vits faces opposingrespective guide faces of the pla-tes l1 and 20, and with.;its outeredge opposing the guiderail 13 and with its inner edge opposing therearwardly extending legs of the edge guide members 15 which extendacross the plane of the film. -See Fig. 1. Tension is'exerted on thefilm edgewise thereof, the edge guide members 15 under x the influenceof the spring 18 urging the film edgewise against the inner surface ofthe guide rail 18. VThe inner vert1cal edge of the late 11 is disposed aslight distancev outwar 1y of the inner edge of the film to permit theguide members functioning when the width of the film is slightly belowstandard, and the plate 2O has portions cut away, as shown in Fig. 6, topermit functioning of the guide members 15 as above set forth. Thus isprovided a simple and effective tensioning guide structure, and it willbe noted that the guide members 15 are individually springV pressed bythe spring 18 whereby ey function separately and maintain the film withits outer edge in alinement with the guide' surface of the guide .rail.13 throughout its length and prevent eilgewise skewing of the filmthough the width of the lm may vary.

A shaft 22 is rotatably mounted within the frame 1 onspaced bearings 23on an axis normal to the p ane of theiilm in the guide and disposed tothe side of thein-ner edge-of the lm and coaxial with the circularshut.l ter chamber 5. See Figs. 4 and 5. This shaft extends forwardlyinto theshutter chamber through a large opening 24 formed in thetransverse wall formation 7 and has an enlarged concentric diskformation 25 adjacent its front' end. A revolving light shutter 26withinv the shutter chamber is secured on the forward end of the shaftby means of a nut 27 screwthreaded on the forward end of the shaft andclamping the shutter against the forwardface of the disk formation 25 ofthe shaft, a rearward projection 28 of the shutter engaging acorresponding recess in disk-like formation to positively time theshutter with respect the `shaft. The shutter, as is usual, is providedwith a light opening 2E) and sweeps over the aperture 8 to interrupt thelight in timed relation with an intermittent feeding of the film throughthe guide hereinabove described. See Figs. 5 and 7.

Disposed inalined and spaced relation above and below the shaft 22 on anaxis disposed to the side of the inner edge of the film in lthe guideand parallel with the path of the film and intersected by the shaft axisis a pair of studs 31 which are secured respectively in thickenedportions of the upper and lower walls of the frame l. See

Figs. 5, G, 7, and 8. A shuttle plate 32 is and the studs 3l engagerespective of these' boreswhereby the shuttle plate is mounted forpivotal movement on the stud axis and for movement therealong. Theshuttle plate 32 is provided with a central aperture 34 elongatedtransversely of its pivotal axis and forming opposed surfaces extendingtransversely of the pivotal axis in intermediate relation with thestuds. A radial cam 35 is formed on the shaft 22 immediately to the rearof the disk formation 25 and is engaged in said aperture 34 and operatesupon said opposed surfaces to effect reciprocating film feeding andreturn movement of the shuttle plate along the studs during rotation ofthe shaft. The shuttle plate has a pair of forwardly projecting camengaging projections 36 thereon disposed on opposite sides of thepivotal axis thereof and arranged centrally and disposed on oppositesides of the aperture 34, and an axial face cam 37 is formed on the rearface of the disk formation 25 in coaxial relation with the cam 35 andengages the cam engagi ing projections to effect oscillating filmengaging and disengaging movement of the shuttle plate during rotationof the shaft. The shuttle plate lies 1n front of the front face guideplate 1l and overlaps the inner edge guide the wall formation 7 having,Y

Lames@ inner'vertical edge thereof, and the portion of the shuttle platewhich overlies this plate is'provided with rearwardly projecting filmengaging teeth 39`disposed to pass through during rotation ofthe shaft22, and so that Vthe film is intermittently moved downwardly through theguide with rotation of the shaft counter-clockwise in Fig. 4. Each ofthe cams 35 and 37 permits movement of the shuttle plate bythe othercam, and the cam 37 is arranged to maintain controlling relation withboth cam engaging projections 36 throughout the cycle of the mechanism.

y sa

The shutter 26 is timed with the cams 35 and 37 to expose the positionof the film at the light apertures 8 and 12 to the light from the lens'9 during each rest period of the film in the guide andto interrupt thislight during each feeding period of the film in a usual manner.

Thus is provided a simple and rugged intermittent feeding device whichis Well adapted for its purpose. Attention is directed to the preferredarrangement as shown where the space at the back of the light apertureas well as lat the front thereof is unobstructed though the film isengaged by the shuttle immediately adjacent the light aperture, wherebythe mechanism is particularly adapted far motion picture projectingmachines as shown in my copending application, Serial No. 572,179, filedJuly 1, 1922, for improvement in motion picture projecting machine andthe like, wherein is described' and claimed certain features relating toa modification thereof.

22 and-normal thereto. The sh aft 42 is rotat.-v

ably mounted'on bearings 43, one of which is mounted in a bore of theside Wall of the 'i frame 1 and the otherl of which is mounted inracentral opening of -a plate 44 disposed {1f-finrmal' tothe shaft 42 andsecured in a shouldered aperture of an intermediate partition 45 formingthe enclosure 40 with the side wall of the frame. See Fig. 4. .A screw,I gear 46 is secured on the shaft 42 Within the 'enclosure 40 andmeshes with the teeth 44 of the shaft 22 .to form a driving connectiontherebetween. The shaft 42 extends from the bearing 43, which is mountedin the plate 44, toward the open side of the frame,

and secured on the extending end of this lshaft is a constant feed fihnsprocket 47 'dlsposed in film feeding alinement with the hereinabovementioned film guide. A plurality of arms 48 are disposed on the side ofthe plate 44 opposite that -facing the sprocket and are pivotallysecured to the plate on axes parallel to and spaced around the shaft 42by means of headed screw studs 49. See Figs. 3, 4, and 5. Studs 51 aresecured'on respective arms 48 on axes parallel with the shaft 42 andextend therefrom through respective openings 52 in the plate 44, whichare spaced around the shaft 42, out across the film sprocket. Filmretaining rollers 53 are rotatably mounted on respective studs 51and-are adapted to retain the film on the sprocket. The rollers byreason of their being carried by the arms 48 are adapted for movementinto and out of film retaining position with respect the sprocket. A camplate 54 is disposed normal to the shaft 42 between the plate 44 and thesprocket 47, and is provided with a central opening through which theshaft passes and which encircles the adjacent bearing 43; See Figs. 2,3, and 4. This plate 54 lies against the plate 44, and an annular ring55 is disposed between the plate 54 and the sprocket and is secured tothe plate 44 by means of headed stud screws 56 passing through segmentslots 57 in the plate 54 and screwthreaded into'the plate 44. See Figs.o and 4. The cam plate 54 is thus mounted lfor pivotal movement. on theaxis of the shaft 42, and is provided with cam slots 58 spaced aroundthe axis thereof and through which the studs 51 pass and engage. Thesecam slots are so arranged that upon pivotal movement of the cam plate 54from the position shown in Fig. 1 clockwise in this figure totheposition shown in Fig. 2 the rollers 53 are moved out of film retainingposition with respect the film sprocket as shown in Fig. 2. Oppositemovement of the cam plate from the position shown in Fig..2 moves therollers 53 into film retaining relation with the sprocket. 'An operatinghandle 59 is formed on the cam plate 54 and extends upwardly therefromfor ,the convenient movement of the cam plate. Thus is provided asimple, compact, and convenient film sprocket and retalning memberdevice which is conveniently opera-ted to lace and unlace the film, themechanism providing for the simultaneous movement of all the retainingrollersinto and out of film retaining position.

The rear film face guide plate 20 isv mounted for rearward and forwardmovement to andfrom the face of the film 2l in the guide in thefollowing manner. They plate 20 has a rearward extension 61 disposedtothe side of the inner edge of the film, and this extension is mounted`for rearward and .forward its wardly therefrom in an inset passage inthe movement on faces of Asuitable bosses of the frame 1 by means ofheaded screw studs 62 passing through horizontal rearwardly andforwardly extending slots 63 in the extension and screwthreaded intosaid bosses. See Figs. 1,2, and 4.

An adjustable eccentric stud 64 is mounted in the frame and is engagedby a vertical projection 65 of the extension to limit forward movementof the plate 20.- The operating handle 59 overlies the extension 61 andis provided with a stud 66 which engages a vertical slot 67 in theextension to operate the plate 20 with pivotal movement of the cam plate54. Fig. `1 showsy the film laced with the retaining members in filmAretaining relation and Fig. 2 shows the retaining members out of filmretaining position. It will be observed' that forward movement of thehandle effects movement of the rollers 53 into film retaining relationwith respect the sprocket 47 and this same movement efi'ects movement ofthe plate 2O into film retaining position whereby the filmy retainingmembersof the several feeding devices are controlled and operated by acommon control means.

The screw teeth 41 and the teeth of the screw gear 46 are so pitchedthat rotation 'of the shaft 42 counter-clockwise in Figs. 1 and 2effects rotation of the shaft 22 counter-clockwise in Fig. 4, and thefilm is fed over the top of the sprocket 47, the two upper rollers 53retaining this portion on the sprocket, to the top of the film guidethrough which it is fed downwardly, and it returns from the lower end ofthe film guide rearwardly under the film sprocket, the two lower rollers53 retaining this portion on the sprocket. See Fig. 1.

Disposed at the rear end of the enclosure ofy the frame 1 to the rear ofthe film sprocket 47 is a pair of coaxial film magazines 68 which aredisposed in parallelism with the sprocket with the outer magazine infilm .feeding alinement with the s rocket and with the inner magazineofl'set e gewise of the film on the sprocket. The spools of thesemagazines are operated in alternation with opposite' operation of thecamera mechanism y a take u mechanism generally indicated at 69 which isoperated from the shaft 42 by a pulley 71 secured on the shaft 42 withinthe enclosure 40 and a belt 72 engaged with said pulley and extendingrearside wall of the frame 1. See Figs 1, 2, and 4. The magazines andtake up mechanism are fully described and claimed in my co- Sendingapplication, Serial No. 578,444, filed uly 29, 1922, for im rovement inmotion icture machine, and o not require further escription orillustration for the present pu se.

e portion of the film lying beneath the film sprocket 47 leadsrearwardly therefrom and enters the outer film magazine. Verticallyspaced between the film sprocket 47 and the film ma azines 68 is a pairof guide rollers 73, whiclgi are rotatably mounted by means of headedscrew studs 74 secured on respective bosses on the frame 1. See Figs. land 2. The rollers 73 are disposed to form reverse bights in the filmbetween the sprocket and the inner magazine an-d to extend diagonally inthe same direction across respective path sections 75 and 76 of thisportion of the film leading respectively from the sprocketand the innermagazine to accommodate the edges of the lilmto induce a natural filmpath 77 between the guide roll-V ers 73 extending diagonally from one ofsaid path sectlons to the other of said path sections. The guide rollers73 are concave to Aeffect engagement of the film with the roll-` ersonly at the edges thereof to prevent scratching ofthe picture ortion ofthe film. Thus the film 'is guide for longitudinal movement from onepath section to another path section oli'set therefrom edgewise of thefilm in a simple, effective, and natural manner.`

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred'embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction shown as' changes may readily be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, but

having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent the following f Claims: v

l. An intermittent lm feeding mechanism including a film feeding shuttlemounted for pivotal movement and for movement along its pivotal axis andproguide and mounted 4for pivotal movement on and for movement along anaxis disposed parallel with the path of a film in said gl'ulide andtothe side of one edge of the and provided with spaced opposing surfacesextending transversely of its ivotal axis, a rotatin radial camdisposed) to the side of said e ge of the' filmvand engaged between saidsurfaces to effect reciprocating advance and return movement of theshuttle along its axis, anda rotating f axial cam disposed tothe sideof'said edge ofthe film and connected with said radial cam to rotate intimed relation therewith for effecting oscillating film engaging anddisengaging movement of the shuttle whereby to effect closed pathintermittent film feeding movement of theshuttle.

3. An intermittent film feeding mechanism including a pair ofspaced andalined bearing studs, a film feeding shuttle mounted for pivotalmovement thereon and formovement along the same, and meansfor effectinga closed path intermittent film feeding vmovement of the shuttle anddisposed'to the side of one edge of thefilm, a toothed t, so

operate on the shuttle at points intermediate with respect said studs.

4. An intermittent. film feeding mechanism including a film feed guide,a pair of spaced and alined bearing studs disposed-parallelV with thepath -of a film in said guide andto filmifeed shuttle adapted forengaging and advancing a perforated film in said guide and mounted forpivotal movement o-n and for `movement along said studs and providedwith spaced vopposing surfaces dis- 'posed intermediately with respectsaid studs and extending transversely of the axis thereof,va' rotatingradial cam between said surfaces and disposed to the side of said edgeof the film on an axis. normal to the plane of the lm and-intersectingthe axis of the studs and operating upon said surfaces to effectreciprocating film advance and return `movement of the shuttle along itspivotal axis, and a rotating axial cam disposed4 to the side 'of saidedge of the film on an axis normal to the plane of the film'andconnected with said -radialcam .to. rotateA in timed 'relation therewithfor effecting oscillating film engaging and disengaging movement of theshuttlewhereby to effect closed path intermittent film feeding movementof the shuttle.

5.' An intermittent film feeding mechanism includin ya pairof spaced andalined lbearing stu s, a toothed lm feeding shuttle mounted for ,pivotalmovement thereon and for movement along the same, and a pair of timedcoaxial rotating cams for effecting a closed pathintermittent filmfeeding movement ofthe shuttle onand along'itslpivotal.

axis and disposed on 'an' axis normal to' the axis ofthe ustudsand'extendingjbetween the studs,` one of said cams being a radial camand controlling movement -of the; shuttle alon the studs` and theothervcam being an axia cam Yand controlling pivotal movement oftheshuttle.

' 6. An intermittent nlm feeding mechanism 'including a, film feedingshuttle l -mounted for pivotal movement on an for late movement along-anaxis extending along the plane vthereof and provided with an openingelongatedtransversely of said axis, and means for eecting a closed athintermittent film feeding movement o the plate on and alon its pivotalaxis including a rotating mem er disposed onv an axis extending throughthe plane of the plate and engaged in said opening and adapted forreciprocating the plate along its pivotal axis.

7. .An intermittent film feeding mechanism includ-in two alined andspaced bearings, a vfilm eed shuttle mounted on said bearingsforivotalmovement on the axis i I thereof and ormovement along lsuch eaxis andprovided with an aperturedisposed cen-` trally vwith respect saidbearings and said axis and elongatedtransversely of said axis,

a rotating radial-cam disposed on an axis normal to the pivotal axisofthe plate and engaged in said aperture for effecting reciprocation oftheplate along its ivotal axis,A

and a rotating axialcam for e ecting oscillating movement of the plateand connected torotate in timed relation with said radial cam whereby toeffect a closed path film feeding movement of the plate.

8. An intermittent film feeding mechanism including-a film feed guide, atoothed film feed shuttle plate disposed similarly with respect theplane of a lm in said guide and extending to the side of one edge of thefilm and mounted for pivotal movement on an axis, disposed to the sideof said edge ofthe film and parallel with the path thereof, said platebeing adapted to engage lon tudinally spaced perforations in the andprovided with an aperture elongated transversely of' its pivotal axis, arotating radial cam disposed to the side of said edge of the film on anaxis normal to the plane of the film in said guide and engaged in saidaperture for effecting reciprocating film feedin and return movement ofthe plate along its pivotal axis and a rotating axial cam disposed tothe side of said edge of the film on an axis normal to the plane of thealong anv axis disposed tothe side of said edge of the film and parallelwith the path of the and intermediately supporting the plate forupivotal mov ment on said axis and for movement therea ong being. rovidedl with'teeth adapted to en ge per orations in the film spaced along t esame adjacent said projections.

said edge thereof and being provided with an aperture and disposedcentrally With 're-- spect said bearings and elongated transversely ofthe pivotal axis thereof, a rotating radial cam disposed to the side ofsaid edge of the film on an axis normal to the plane of the film in saidguide and engaged in said aperture for effecting reciprocating filmfeeding and return movement of the plate along its pivotal axis, and arotating axial cam disposed 'to the side of said edge of the film on anaxis normal to the plane of the film in said guide for effectingoscillating film engaging and disengaging movement ofthe plate on itspivotal axis and connected to rotate in timed relation With said radialcam whereby to effect closed path film feeding movement ofthe plate.

10. An intermittent film feeding mechanism including a film feedshuttle. plate mounted for movement on and along an axis extending alongthe plane of the plate and having an aperture disposed centrally withrespect said axis and elongated transversely of said axis, and a pair ofcoaxial cams fixed together for effecting closed path intermittent filmfeeding movement of the plate on and along its pivotal axis, one of saidcams being a radial cam engaged in said aperture to effect reciprocatingmovement of the plate;

along its pivotal axis and the other cam being an axial face cam andoperating upon the plate on opposite sides of the pivotal' axis thereofto effect oscillating movement of the plate on said pivotal axis.

11. An intermittent lm feeding mechanism including a film lfeedingshuttle mounted for` pivotal movement on an for movement along anaxisextending along of the plate in central relation with the plate, saidplate having an aperture disposed centrally with respect said axis andelongated transversely of the axis and having a pair of cam engagingprojections on one face thereof disposed on opposite sides of said axisand arranged centrally and on opposite sides of said aperture, and apair of timed coaxial cams for effecting a closed path intermittent filmfeeding movement of the shuttle on and along its pivotal axis anddisposed on an axis normal to the pivotal axis of the plate, one of saidcams being a radial cam engaged in said aperture and the other cam beingan axial face cam engaging 12. An intermittent film feedin mechav nismincludin' a film feed shuttle p ate havmannose plate, a pair of spacedand alined bearing studs engaging respective bores and supporting theplate formovement on and ong such axis, and means for effecting a closedpath intermittent film feeding movement of the plate on and along itspivotal axis including a rotating member between said studs.

13. An intermittent feeding mechanism including a film feed shuttleplate having pair of bearing portions at opposite extremities thereofand turned laterally out of the plane thereof in the same direction andbored coaxially on an axisextending along the plane of the plate incential relation with the plate, a pair of spdced and alined bearingstuds engaging respective of said bores and supporting the plate 'formovement on and along such axis, said plate having a central apertureelongated transversely of said axis, and means for effecting a closedpath intermittent film feeding movementlof the `plate on and along itspivotal axis including a rotating radial cam disposed on an axisextending through the plane of the plate and engaged in said aperture tocontrol movement of the plate along its pivotal axis and an. axial camfor controlling movement of the plate on its pivotal axis and lconnected to rotate in timed relation with said radial cam.

14. An intermittent film feeding mechanism including a shit'ttle platehaving a pair of spaced bearing portions at opposite extremities thereofandr turned laterally out of the plane thereof in the samewdirection andbored coaxially on an axis extending along the plane of the plate incentral relation with the plate, a. pair of spaced and alined bearingstuds engaging respective of said bores and supporting the plate-formovement on and along said axis, said plate having a central apertureelongated transversely of said axis, and a pair of timed coaxial rotat-`ing cams disposed on an axis normal to the pivotal axis of the plate"and extendin through said aperture for effecting a close pathintermittent film feeding movement of the plate on and along its pivotalaxis, one of said camsbeing a radial cam engaged in said aperture tocontrol movement of the plate along its pivotal axis and the other cambeing an axial face cam operating on the plate on opposite sides of itspivotal axisA to "control pivotal l,movement of ther l plate. t

In Witness whereof I hereunto aiiix my :slirature this twenty-eighth day0f June,

ALBERT- s. HOWELL.

